Scanning type radioactive thickness gauge with data display system



Aprll 5, 1966 c w HANSEN AL 3,244,881

SCANNING TYPE RADIOACTIVE THICKNESS GAUGE WITH DATA DISPLAY SYSTEM Filed Dec. 29, 1961 6 Sheets-Sheet l CIRCUITS PROGRAM 7 CONTROL u 1| RADIATION PROFLE BRIDGE GAuGE 0 AVERAGE NETWORK T I I I CHART SET I DRIVE POINT 33 I u SCAN RECORDER SET Q BRIEGE DRIVE 1 CONTROL NETWORK INVENTOR. CARL WOODROW HANSEN F l (5 2 PETER J.CLACK BY JOHN G. wooo W M f ATTORNEYS Aprll 5, 1966 c. w. HANSEN ETAL 3,244,881

SCANNING TYPE RADIOACTIVE THICKNESS GAUGE WITH DATA DISPLAY SYSTEM Filed Dec. 29, 1961 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 CHART ADVANCE FIG. 3

INVENTOR.

CARL WOODROW HANSEN BY PETER J. CLACK JOHN G. WOOD ATTORNEYS A nl 5, 1966 c. w. HANSEN ETAL 3,244,331

SCANNING TYPE RADIOACTIVE THICKNESS GAUGE WITH DATA DISPLAY SYSTEM Filed Dec. 29, 1961 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEYS April 5, 1966 c. w. HANSEN ETAL 3,244,381

SCANNING TYPE RADIOACTIVE THICKNESS GAUGE WITH DATA DISPLAY SYSTEM Filed Dec. 29, 1961 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 A.C. POWER SOURCE 37 OPERATE SWITCH MOTOR (a4 ACTUATED ON PROFILE +5 SECONDS Z m mm E N T m WM vw i N 0 MD A I R O D Q0 0 W O W G r R L E N um mPJ Y B. 5 w G F O 3 I II l l l l...

Apnl 5, 1966 c. w. HANSEN ETAL 3,244,831

SCANNING TYPE RADIOACTIVE THICKNESS GAUGE WITH DATA DISPLAY SYSTEM Flled Dec. 29. 1961 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 llll-lllllll-lllllll-lllllll-lllllll lllllll lllllll lllll T llllll lllll Illlllllllllllllllllll llilll IllllI\lllllllllllllllllllllllllllll llll I w illlHlillllll TIME U O U U O U 0O RELAY 4| RELAY 42 RELAY 43 CLUTCH 4 "x" MOTOR 4 Y MOTOR 4 I11 Z m FIG. 6

C. W. HANSEN ETAL SCANNING TYPE RADIOACTIVE THICKNESS GAUGE WITH DATA DISPLAY SYSTEM 7 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 April 5, 1966 Filed Dec. 29. 1961 CHART RADIATION, 3O DRI+VE eb ugE VOLTS IO? IEI g2! ADVANCE INVENTOR. CARL WOODROW HANSEN PETER J.CLACK BYJOHN e. wooo W,Mma

ATTORNEYS United States Patent ()1 oratory for Electronics, Inc, Boston, Mass, a corpora- I tion of Delaware Filed Dec. 29, 196i, Scr. No. 163,238 4 Claims. (Cl. 25-83.3)

This invention relates in general to industrial process gauging and, more particularly, to a readout system for two coordinate data presentation on a strip chart recorder.

Increasing emphasis on automation in industrial processing has led to the development of a variety of automatic gauges for measuring the physical characteristics of the processed material. For example, in the production of paper, radiation thickness gauges have been employed which provide output signals representing the thickness of the paper in process. The paper is generally produced in a continuous web of a specified width and the radiation gauge may either continuously monitor the thickness at a selected position across the width of the web, or may be scanned back and forth across the Web thereby obtaining a profile of the thickness of paper as a function of position across the width of the web. The information so obtained is, in some instances, employed in an automatic feedback loop to control the thickness of the paper to a predetermined set point value and, in other instances, is provided on a visual readout for use both in manual control of the process and to form a permanent record of the characteristics of the particular batch of paper. A typical visual readout employs an x-y chart recorder as the display element. An x-y recorder provides two independent electronic balancing systems, One system drives the chart and the other system drives the recorder pen. The chart motion then provides the y axis while the pen motion provides the x axis. Thus, if the output of a radiation gauge is supplied to the chart drive system and a signal indicative of the scanning position of the gauge is applied to the recorder pen system, a profile of thickness as a function of position is recorded. The set point signal may then be intermittently applied to the chart drive system as an indication of set point thickness for comparison to the variations of thickness indicated by the gauge.

In manual operation, there are usually several adjustments which may be made by the operator to conform the thickness of the paper as closely as possible to the set point value. Thus, if the profile indicates that the paper has continuing tendency to be thicker on one edge than the other, the operator may make an adjustment to compensate for this difference. There are, however, variations in thickness of a random nature across the Width of the web and, hence, the overall adjustment of thickness is best made by comparing the average value of thickness to the set point value. However, determining visually the average value from the profile display is exceedingly difficult. Also, a data presentation, as described above, with a thickness profile and a set point drawn along the x axis, has a limited value as a permanent record since the set point value shown is purely relative. At a later point in time there is no automatic indication of the value of set point related to the absolute value of thickness desired, unless notations are made of the selected set point value at the time that the chart tracing is made.

It is, therefore, the primary object of the present invention to provide a data display system for presenting on a two coordinate chart, the output in profile of a scanning industrial gauge, together with the average value of ice the profile, an indication of the relative value of set point and an indication of the value of set point indicative of the absolute value.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a data display system for presenting on an x-y recorder the output signals from a scanning industrial gauge in the form of a profile with material value indicated on the y coordinate and scanning position on the x coordinate, and in which the average of material value for the scan is recorded on the y coordinate, together with a value of set point relative to the average value while an additional value of set point related to a fixed scale setting is recorded on the x coordinate.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a data display system for presenting output signals from a scanning industrial gauge on a two coordinate chart in the form of a scan profile together with the average value of the profile and a relative set point on the y axis and a set point line on the x axis related to a fixed set point scale, wherein dispersions in value within the profile are on a compressed scale in comparison to the fixed scale for the x axis set point.

Broadly speaking, the readout system of this invention presents the output of a scanning industrial gauge on an x-y recorder chart. The profile output of the gauge as it scans is recorded together with the average value of the measured variable for each scan and the predetermined set point value for each scan. In the profile trace, the value of the measured variable is presented on the y axis, while the scanning position is on the x axis. The value of set point along the y axis is shown as a line at the appropriate y position drawn across the x axis and the average value of the measured variable for each scan is also indicated as line drawn at the appropriate position on the y axis across the x axis. The usual x-y recorder has a fixed graduated scale across the x axis associated with the chart. An indicator can be positioned on this scale to represent the selected value of set point. For each scan, the readout system of this invention records a line along the y axis at an appropriate value on the x axis corresponding to the position of the set point indicator on the fixed graduated scale. This x axis set point value is then related to the fixed scale and, provided only that an indication of the range setting of the scale is known, serves as a permanent record of the absolute value of set point at the time each scan measurement was made.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an industrial radiation gauge coupled to an output recorder;

FIG. 2 is an illustration in block diagrammatic form of a data display system in accordance with the principles of this invention;

FIG. 3 is an illustration of a typical chart record produced by a data display system in accordance with the principles of this invention;

FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, taken together, illustrate in schematic form a preferred embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 6 is an illustration in bar graph form of the operational sequence of several of the key elements illustrated in FIG. 5; and

FIGS. 7a and 7b are illustrations in schematic form of modifications to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 to provide another embodiment of this invention.

With reference now specifically to FIG. 1, an industrial radiation gauge measuring the thickness of a process material web is illustrated. The process material web 11 flows through a rectangular opening formed by the frame 13 of the radiation gauge 12. A radiation detector 14 and radioactive source 20 combination are mounted in the frame 13 in such a fashion as to scan back and forth across the width of the web 11. This scanning motion is controlled by a scan drive unit 15 which typically might be an electric motor-chain drive combination. A scan position indicator is included in unit 15. This indicator could take the form of a mechanical output indicating the angular position of a shaft turned by the chain or an electrical output. The information as to the position of the scan drive across the Width of the web is provided through cable 21 to the readout circuits 16 contained in a console unit 10, which also includes a chart recorder 17. Information from the radiation detector 14 is carried through a flexible cable 22 to the readout circuits to. The readout circuits 16 are coupled to the recorder 17 in order to provide a visual display for the information from the gauge. The output of the ionization detector 14 is directly related to the thickness of the material flowing be tween it and the radioactive source 20 and, hence, the output information from the radiation gauge is an indication of the thickness of the web flowing through the radiation gauge as a function of the position of the ionization detector 14 and radioactive source 20 across the width of the web.

Turning now to FIG. 2, a simplified block diagram illustrates the system for providing the output information from a radiation gauge on an xy recorder chart. A radiation gauge 39 provides output signals indicative of both thickness profile and the average value of thickness to a y bridge network 34. A system for providing at intervals the average value is described in pending US. patent application, Serial Number 785,95 6. The profile output signals are signals indicative of the variation of thickness as a function of time for each scan pass, while the average output signal represents an average value of the thickness for each scan. The bridge network 34- provides an output which controls the chart drive on the xy recorder 17. A scan drive unit 15 provides the scanning motion to the radiation gauge and provides output signals indicative of the scanning position of the radiation gauge 30 to the x bridge network 33 and to program control unit 32. The radiation gauge 30 also provides an output signal to the program control unit 32. The program control unit is preprogramtmed to provide the appropriate switching in the x and y bridge networks and in the recorder 17 so that each network responds appropriately to the input signals and operates on the recorder in a predetermined sequence. The output of the x bridge network 33 is provided to the pen drive of recorder 17. The set point value is controlled from recorder 17 and provides set point information both to y bridge network 34 and x bridge network 33.

In order to best understand the operation of the system diagrarnmed in FIG. 2, reference will first be made to the typical chart tracing illustrated in FIG. 3. The strip chart 23 is formed generally of paper which rolls from a feed roller 24 to a take up roller (not shown) and this paper is ruled in both the x and y axes. As indicated in FIG. 3, the chart motion is along the y axis and the chart may be driven in either direction, although the direction of normal flow from the feed roll to the take up roll is in the direction indicated as chart advance. Across the x axis at the top of the strip chart 23 is mounted a graduated scale 25, which is formed of metal or plastic, or the like, and generally is attached to a cabinet or frame housing the chart and drive mechanism. A knob 27 is attached to a set point indicator 26 and the position of set point may be varied by adjustment of the knob 27. The knob 27, as will be described in more detail below, also controls the setting of a potentiometer to provide a set point adjustment in the associated circuitry. The tracing, as indicated, is scribed on the chart paper 2-3 by means of a motor driven pen 28, which also carries its indicator on the graduated scale 25. The motor driven pen 2% is driven by a motor (controlled by appropriate circuitry) only along the x axis, maintaining a fixed y position. The

variations along the y axis of the resultant tracing, then, are accomplished by the chart motion.

In FIG. 3 a typical tracing on the chart is shown representing signals from a readout circuit such as that illustrated in FIG. 2. The starting point for the tracing, shown in solid line, is point A, which corresponds to the beginning of a scan of a radiation gauge across a fixed width of the material to be measured. The irregular line from A to point B on the opposite side of the chart represents the pro-file of the radiation gauge output. The variations along the y axis represent variations in thickness of the material and the position along the x axis represents the scan position of the gauge with respect to the width of the material strip being measured. At point B the gauge has completed its scan and dwells at this position for one or two seconds enabling the circuitry to arrive at the average value of thickness for the scan pro-file which has just been completed. This average value, having been computed by the circuitry, the chart is driven such that the pen is positioned on the y axis at a position, C, corresponding to this average value. The circuitry then drives the pen back across the chart at this y axis average value until it reaches a point along the x axis corresponding to the set point value. This point is represented on the chart as point D and the tracing between point C and point D then provides a record of the average value of thickness for the just completed scan. At point D the circuitry supplies to the chart drive a signal such that the chart is driven to the set point value on the y axis, shown here as point E. The dotted line across the chart which passes through point E represents the set point value which has been traced just prior to the initiation of a scan. Thus, at this point, information as to the profile, the average value of thickness for the scan and the set point on both the x and y axis is visually presented and recorded. At point B a chart advance signal drives the chart a predetermined length of chart along the x set point value in order to advance the chart preparatory to recording the next scan cycle. This chart advance produces the E to F portion of the tracing. At point P the y axis control circuitry is set to the set point value and the pen motor is then actuated to drive the pen to point G at the far side of the chart 23 and back to point H, thereby providing a y axis value of set point for the next scanning cycle (corresponding to the dotted line passing through point E for the previous cycle).

The tracing illustrated provides for complete information on the relative value of the profile and average value of each scan with respect to the set point value and, in addition, provides an indication of this set point value on the x axis. The latter indication can be directly related, by virtue of the fixed scale 25, to an absolute set point value. In many instances the range of values of thickness covered by the fixed scale 2d may be varied by switching the electronic circuitry. Under these circumstances, either a notation as to the range is entered manually on the chart, or as an auxiliary, a solenoid printer may be utilized to stamp the appropriate range on the chart automatically.

Turning now to FIGS. 4- and 5, the detailed circuitry for providing a readout in accordance with the illustration of FIG. 3 is shown. 'FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of the x and y bridge networks and associated circuitry, while FIG. 5 represents the program control network of relays, motors and electromechanical switches. The basic operating unit of the programmer is a repeat cycle timer which consists of a synchronous cam motor 44 driving a. cam shaft (not shown). The cam shaft rotates continuously as long as the motor is energized and adjustable cams determine the point of closing and opening of associated switches during each cam shaft revolution. Thus, during each cycle, each of the cams may hold an electrical switch open or closed, for a preselected portion of the cycle. In the program control schematically illustrated in FIG. 5, eight cam operated switches are utilized. Repeat cycle timers of this type are commercially available, a typical example being the Multipulse Repeat Cycle Time, manufactured by the Eagle Signal Company.

Throughout FIG. 5, the cam switches are diagrammed with a triangular section on the switch arm. In the normal, unactuated position, the switch is closed to the contact which is on the same side of the arm as the triangle. When the cam is actuated, the switch arm breaks this connection and makes contact with the other terminal. In FIG. 5 the cam switches are shown in the position which they occupy during a profile scan prior to reading out the average value. In both FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, however, relay contacts have been illustrated as opposed parallel lines which, when normally open, are not connected and, when normally closed, are connected by a diagonal slash line.

Turning now to the schematic of FIG. 5, a pair of electrical lines 38 and 39 are connected across an alternating current power source 37. Cam motor 44, which is the actuator for the repeat cycle timer, has one side connected through switch 60 to line 39. Switch 60' is a manually operated single throw switch, the closing of which renders the readout system operative. The other side of cam motor 44 is connected to the arm of cam switch 58, which in the non-actuated position as shown, is connected through normally closed relay contacts 61 and normally opened relay contacts 62 to a junction 59. Relay contacts 61 are controlled from the scan drive unit 15 and this relay is actuated only when the gauge is oii' sheet. The normally opened contacts 62 are also controlled by scan drive unit 15 and this relay is actuated only when the radiation gauge is retracing from the finish of a scan back to its initial position. Junction 59 is connected through normally closed relay 63 to line 38. Relay 63 is again actuated from scan drive unit 15 and it is actuated only when the radiation gauge is retracing. In its actuated state, the arm of cam switch 58 is connected directly to junction 59. This junction 59 is also connected through a manually operated push button switch 65 to the junction between the arm of switch 58 and one side of cam motor 44. Push button switch 65 may be depressed to advance the chart without going through the entire readout cycle. Another cam switch 57 has its arm connected to line 38 and in its actuated position, as shown, the arm is contacting a terminal connected directly to junction 59. The manner in which the above combination of switches and relays is employed to operate the cam motor for providing a readout sequence for each scan will be explained below in connection with the description of the sequential operation of the entire system.

In the remainder of the program control circuit, six cam switches, numbered 51 through 56, are programmed to energize in appropriate sequence the key operative elements of the readout system. These key operative elements are relay coils 41, 42 and 43, clutch control 45, x motor 46 and y motor 47. Again, the detail of the manner in which each of these elements is energized will be described below in connection with the overall sequential operation.

The circuit illustrated in schematic form in FIG. 4 consists generally of two bridge circuits, one of which controls the motion of the recorder pen through the x motor and the other of which controls the operation of the chart drive through a combination of the y motor and a clutch. Each of these bridges is a null balance bridge and it is the action of the servomechanisms in balancing the bridges which provides the motion to the pen and the chart. Either of these bridge circuits may be connected through contacts 42b, 42c, 42d, and 426, actuated by relay 42 in the program control circuit of FIG. 5 to a voltage divider network. The voltage divider network, which consists of resistors 91 and 92 in series with the set point potentiometer 90, enables the bridge circuit connected to 6 it to be balanced to set point by grounding the arm of the potentiometer 90.

Considering first the x, or pen recorder, bridge circuit, the balancing elements are the balancing amplifier 84 and the x motor 46 which mechanically drives the movable arm 83 on the x balance slide wire and simultaneously drives the recorder pen so that it follows the movements of the arm 83. The balancing amplifier 84 has one input grounded and the other input connected electrically to the arm 83 of balancing slide wire 80. The amplifier 84 has the characteristic that it provides an output to reversible motor 46 in response to any imbalance between these two inputs so that the motor is operated whenever there is any imbalance and the direction of imbalance determines the direction of operation of the motor. Since the motor 46 drives the potentiometer arm 83, the whole forms a closed loop null balancing mechanism. A direct current voltage supply 70 provides a voltage across a series network which includes variable resistors '74, 81 and 82, together with the slide wire potentiometer 819. A second network is in parallel with this series network and is also across the direct current voltage source 70. The second network consists of a slide wire potentiometer 71 in series with a variable resistor 72. The movable arm on slide wire 71 is connected through normally closed relay contacts 41a to ground and is mechanically coupled to the scan drive unit 15 so that the position of the movable arm on the slide wire 71 corresponds to the scanning position of the radiation gauge unit. A third circuit in parallel with the previous two series circuits across voltage source 70 consists of a potentiometer 73 which has its movable arm coupled through normally open relay contacts 42a to ground. This potentiometer 73 is referred to as the position limit potentiometer and its function will be explained in connection with the description of the operation of this circuit.

With reference now to the y bridge circuit which controls the chart drive, the operative balancing elements are the balancing amplifier 112, y motor 47, and the slide wire potentiometer 110. The movable arm 111 of slide wire potentiometer 114i is mechanically coupled to the output of motor 47 and electrically connected to one input of balancing amplifier 112, the other input of which is grounded. Balancing amplifier 112, which is a duplicate of balancing amplifier 84, provides an output signal in response to an imbalance between its input terminals, with the polarity of the output being determined by the direction of the imbalance. Motor 47 is coupled to this output and operates only in response to an output representing an imbalance at the input of amplifier 112, the direction of movement of the motor 47 being determined by the polarity of the output signal from amplifier 112. In addition to driving the movable arm 111 on slide wire potentiometer 110, the motor 47 also is connected through a clutch mechanism 75 to the chart drive illustrated generally at 76. The clutch 75 is a typical solenoid actuated two-position clutch. A direct current voltage source is coupled directly across potentiometer 110. Also coupled across direct current voltage source 95 is a series network including variable resistors 102 and 103, together with slide wire potentiometer 100. The variable resistors 102 and 103 are mechanically ganged so that variation of either one varies the other. The movable arm 101 of slide wire potentiometer 1% is electrically connected through normally closed relay contacts 43a and 42 to ground and mechanically coupled to the radiation gauge 30. The arm 101 through its mechanical coupling to the radiation gauge 30 is arranged so that variations in value of the output of the radiation gauge are represented as variations in position of arm 101 on slide wire 100. A typical method for accomplishing this is to make this slide wire a slave to a slide wire in the radiation gauge circuit. (The usual radiation gauge includes a bridge circuit which null balances the electrical output of the radiation detector against a slide wire voltage.)

An additional series network is coupled in parallel with the series network including the radiation gauge slide wire, and this additional network includes fixed resistors 105 and 106 in series with variable resistor 107, the latter being labeled advance. Normally open relay contacts 410 are coupled directly across the variable resistor 107. The junction betWeen resistors 105 and 106 is connected through normally open relay contacts 43b to ground.

As previously mentioned, the motion in both the chart drive and pen control is imparted by unbalancing either the x or y bridge network, and the action of the respective network in rebalancing the bridge drives either the pen motor or the chart drive. The sequencing of signals applied across the respective bridge networks in order to achieve the output programming described in conjunction with FIG. 3 is aiiected by the program controller illustrated in FIG. 5.

The cam switches in FIG. 5 are shown in the position which they occupy during the profile scan, that is while the tracing from point A to point B (FIG. 3) is being made. FIG. 6 is a bar graph showing the sequential operation of the key operative elements in the readout system. The shaded portions of the graph indicate that the associated unit is in the actuated state. Each of the elements, during the profile scan time, are in the state indicated at time t on FIG. 6. Cam 58 is, then, in the nonactuated position as shown and relay 62 is in its normally open position since the scan drive is operating on forward. Accordingly cam motor 44 is not actuated and, thus, all of the cam switches 51 through 58 remain in position. Each of the relays d1, 42, and 43 are not actuated and, hence, their respective contacts are in their normal positions. The clutch 75 is actuated, that is, is connected for driving, since the clutch control unit 45 is energized. The clutch control, when not energized, drops out clutch 45. X motor 46 is energized through the cam switch 52 and y motor 47 is energized through relay 64- which, as shown, is actuated from the radiation gauge while the scan profile takes place and for a period of live seconds thereafter,

Referring now to FIG. 4, under these conditions, in the x bridge circuit, the movable arm of potentiometer 71 is electrically grounded and the movable arm on set point potentiometer 90 is not grounded. The arm 83 on the x balance slide wire is, therefore, balancing in relation to the scan drive position and the pen motor as is positioning this pen along the x axis in relation to the transverse position of the radiation gauge. In the y bridge circuit the arm 101 of slide wire 100 is grounded and the position of this arm is controlled by radiation gauge 30 to correspond to variations in the thickness of material. The arm 111 on the y balance slide wire is, therefore, balancing to correspond to the position of arm 101 on slide wire 100 and, hence, variations in thickness result in corresponding variations in the chart drive along the y axis. When the radiation gauge has scanned entirely across the width arriving at point B on the chart, the scan drive provides a signal to the radiation gauge indicating the end of the scan and then stops for a few seconds. The radiation gauge provides, during this delay, as an output, the average of the just completed scan, again in terms of controlling the arm 101 on slide wire potentiometer 100. After the few seconds delay, the scan drive then reverses the motion of the radiation gauge and it starts to retrace back across the material strip. On retrace the scan provides an output to relay 62 actuating that relay and thereby changing it from its normally open to a closed position. The closure of relay contacts 62 provides current through cam switches 57 and 58 to earn motor 44 thereby commencing the action of the repeat cycle timer function.

At time t cam switches 56 and 58 are actuated and cam switch 51 is deactuated and, therefore, all three switches change position. (As previously noted, the position of these switches throughout the cycle, while the cam motor is on, is a function which is preset into the re peat cycle timer.) The cam motor 44 remains energized through cam switch 58, junction 59 and cam switch 57. The actuation of cam 56 serves to keep the y motor 47 on after the opening of relay 64. The action of cam switch 51 dropping out actuates relay coil 41 and, thereby, changes the position of all of the relay contacts 41a through c from their normal positions. In the x bridge, then, the arm of slide wire potentiometer '71 is disconnected from ground and the arm of the set point potentiometer is connected through relay contacts 41b to ground, and consequently the x bridge balances to set point through pen motor 46. The pen, therefore, travels across the x axis to the appropriate x value of set point, from point C to point D. In the y bridge, relay contacts 41c short out variable resistor 107, however, since this series circuit, including resistor 107, 106 and 105 is nowhere grounded, the closure of contacts 410 does not aftect the operation of the circuit. The arm 101 on radiation gauge slide wire is positioned to correspond to the average value from radiation gauge 30 and the y bridge has balanced to this value during the delay period immediately preceding time t Hence, the pen trace from point C to point D is at a y value corresponding to the average value of the just completed scan.

At time 2 cam 52 is deactuated. As a result of the action of cam switch 52, x motor 46 is de-energized and relay coil 42 is energized, thereby changing the position of all of the relay contacts 42a through g. The action of relay contacts 42g, in closing, lock in the energized state of relay 42. Since the x motor is off, then the pen remains at the at value of set point, however, the x circuit is disconnected through contacts 42b and 42c from the set point circuit and connected through contacts 42a to the movable arm of position limit potentiometer 73. In the y bridge network the contacts 42 open up and disconnect electrically the arm 101 of slide wire 100 from ground, while the contacts 42c and 42d connect the y bridge circuit across the series of resistors 90, 91, and 92 forming the set point circuit. Accordingly, the y bridge now balances to set point and the chart drive new moves so that the pen is positioned on the y value of set point, represented as point E in FIG. 3.

At time i cam switch 53 is deactuated, hence de-energizing clutch control 45 to drop out clutch 75. The action of this same switch 53 energizes relay coil 43 thereby changing the position of each of the contacts 43a through 0. Relay contacts 43c open and drop out relay 42 returning the 42 contacts throughout the circuit to their original normal position. Relay contacts 43a open and, therefore, despite the reclosing of relay contacts 42], the arm 101 of slide wire 100 remains disconnected from ground. The closing of contacts 43b grounds the junction between resistors 105 and 106 labeled center scale and the y bridge balances to center scale. Since the clutch 75 is disengaged, there is no motion of the chart drive associated with this rebalancing,

At time t cam 54 drops out thereby reenergizing clutch control 45 and reengaging the clutch '75. Since the as motor is still oif, there is no motion of the pen and since the y bridge is already balanced, there is no motion of the chart drive. This step is introduced in order that the center position of the y balance slide wire shall correspond to the y value of set point on the chart.

At time t cam switch 51 is reenergized, thereby dropping out relay coil 41 and returning the 41 contacts to their original normal position. The x motor remains ofi and, in the y circuit, the opening of contacts 410 places the variable resistance 107 in series with resistors 106 and 105 across the voltage supply 95 with the junction between resistors 105 and 106 grounded. The y bridge then rebalances and the action of the y motor 47 in rebalancing drives the chart to advance it such that the pen moves from position E to position F. The tracing E to F repre- Q 'scnts a set point value on the x axis corresponding to the position of the indicator 26. The advance of the chart is preparatory to providing a tracing of the x value of set point for the next cycle. A

At timev t cam switch 54 is actuated, deenergizing clutch control 45 and thereby disengaging clutch 75.

At time t-;, cam switch 55 is deenergized, which drops out relay coil 43 and energizes relay coil 41. The dropping out of relay 43 closes relay contacts 43c and reenergizes relay 42. Relays 41 and 42 are, therefore, energized while relay 43 is deenergized. Relay 42 is locked on by the closing of contacts 42g. The x motor remains oil? and in the x bridge circuit the closure of relay contacts 42a provides that the arm of the position limit potentiometer 73 is grounded. The y bridge is connected through contacts 42d and 42e across the set point network and the arm of set point potentiometer 90 is grounded through relay contacts 41b. The bridge, therefore, balances to set point, but there is no change in the chart position since the clutch is disengaged.

At time t cam switch 53 is actuated, thereby reenergizing clutch control 45 and reengaging clutch 75. The y bridge remains balanced.

At time t cam switch 52 is actuated and this actuates x motor 46. The x bridge now balances to a value determined by the setting of the position limit potentiometer 73 and this balancing action through pen motor 46 drives the pen to the left margin of the chart to the point designated G.

At the time cam switch 56 is deenergized and the y motor is thereby inactivated.

- At times t cam switch 55 is actuated, hence relay 41 drops out. In the x bridge the arm of potentiometer 71 is connected now through contacts 41a to ground and the arm of potentiometer 73 remains connected through relay contacts 42a to ground. Since the arm of potentiomter 71 is in a position corresponding to the scan position of the radiation gauge and since the radiation gauge will have almost finished retracing to its original position, the x balance starts to balance somewhere at a point intermediate the left margin at point G and the position on the x axis corresponding to the present position of the radiation gauge.

At time 1 cam 57 is deactuated, hence relay 42. drops out and relay 43 is actuated. Contacts 42a now open and the arm of position limit potentiometer 73 is ungrounded. Since relay 63 remains actuated until completion of the retrace motor 44 stops until the retraceis completed. In the x circuit, the bridge now balances precisely to a value representing the return scan position of the radiation gauge and follows it to position H. When the retrace is completed, relay 63 is deactuated,.thus closing, and cam motor 44 is reenergized through cam switch 58, junction 59 and relay 63, thus continuing. the program cycle.

At time cam switch 57 is reenergized, thereby dropping out relay 43.

At time 2 cam 58 is deenergized and cam motor 44 is then inactivated by the opening of relay contact 62 when the retrace is completed. The program control and circuit is now in the same condition that it was initially, that is, prepared to make a profile scan readout. The set point line along the-x axis of the y value of set point has been traced for the next profile scan cycle. The scan drive unit- 15, upon completing its retrace, repeats the transverse travel across the material strip to obtain the next profile.

The x and y bridge circuits are calibrated by means of the variable resistors prior to operating the system. There are five basic steps to performing this calibration. In order to perform the switching for the calibration steps, the repeat cycle timer is manually turned until the appropriate switching conditions are achieved.

The first calibration step is to calibrate the y balance slide wire 110 against the set point potentiometer 90. This id is accomplished by adjusting the variable resistors 93 and 94 until the arm 111 on the slide wire 110 traverses approximately full scale when the set point potentiometer 90 movable arm is varied full scale.

The second step is to calibrate the y balance slide wire 110 against the radiation gauge slide wire 100. In this case, again, the 1 balance slide wire is made to move full scale when the radiation gauge slide wire moves full scale, and this adjustment is made by varying the resistors 102 and 103.

The third step is to calibrate the x balance slide wire against the set point potentiometer 9t). This is done in the same fashion as the y balance slide wire was calibrated against the set point potentiometer with the adjustments now being made in variable resistors 81 and 82.

The fourth step involves the calibration of the potentiometer 71 against the x balance slide wire 80. The movable arm of potentiometer 71 is controlled by the position of the radiation gauge on its scan path. It may well be that travel of the radiation gauge from one edge to the other of the material sheet does not correspond to full travel of the arm on potentiometer 71. In this case, then, the x balance slide wire is made to travel approximately full scale for a change of position of the movable arm of potentiometer 71 corresponding to full width travel of the radiation gauge on its scan path. These adjustments are made by setting the variable resistors 72 and 74.

The final step in calibration is to set the position limit potentiometer 73 against the x balance slide wire 80 such that a balance is achieved with the movable arm 83 of the x balance slide wire 86 in a position corresponding to the left margin of the chart. The set point value desired is then established by setting the arm of poten tiometer 9% to a value corresponding to the balance position of the radiation gauge slide wire when material of the desired thickness is being measured. The arm of this potentiometer 90 is controlled by knob 27 (FIG. 3).

A modification of the circuit illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 is shown in FIG. 7, in which like numbers refer to like parts of FIGS. 4 and 5. This modification provides that when set point is, for example, at a value 10% of full scale in a particular range, that the x value of set point indicated as the line EF on FIG. 3 will be traced as shown in FIG. 3 and as it would be with the circuit of FIGS. 4 and 5. On the other hand, the y scale may be compressed so that full chart travel on either side of set point may be achieved representing something less than the full range on the x coordinate. Using this system, maximum sensitivity is achieved in terms of the profile and yet the x representation of set point corresponds to a specific absolute setting as indicated by the position of the indicator 26. The schematic shown in FIG. 7 ac complishes this type of operation. The x bridge circuit in this modfication consists of the x bridge circuit as shown in FIG. 4 to the left of junctions 129 and 121, with the modification of FIG. 7a connected to points 12%) and 121. The y bridge circuit, in this modification, is not interconnected with the x bridge circuit and is as shown in FIG. 7b. The program control operates in precisely the same fashion for this modification as it did for the circuit shown in FIG. 4. However, the circuit is now arranged so that in the step when the y bridge would balance to set point value, it now balances to center scale. The compressed range is achieved during cali bration by calibrating the y balance slide wire against the gauge and arranging the gauge so that it achieves virtually full swing for expected variations about center set point which is now at center scale.

Having described the invention, modifications and improvements will now become apparent to those skilled in this art and the invention herein should be construed as limited only by the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for measuring and providing a two-cordinate output record of a variable characteristic of a moving material strip comprising, a transducer adapted to measure and provide as a first output an indication of said variable characteristic in the region of said transducer; a scanning means adapted to scan repetitively said transducer back and forth transversely across said material strip and to provide an output indication continuously of the transverse position of said transducer; a two-coordinate strip chart pen recorder, said strip chart having bi-directional vertical motion, said strip chart recorder having a chart input for controlling said vertical motion, said strip chart recorder having a scribing pen at a fixed vertical position adapted for bi-directional horizontal motion, said strip chart recorder having a pen input for controlling the horizontal position of said pen; a signal generator providing, as an output, a set point signal equivalent to said transducer first output signal for a predetermined desired value of said variable characteristic; a graduated scale member attached to said strip chart recorder in a horizontal position; indicator means associated with said signal generator and said scale member and adapted to provide a visual indication on said scale member of said set point value; said transducer providing as a second output at the completion of each scan in a first direction the average value of said first transducer output for said just completed scan; circuit means responsive to said transducer first and second outputs, said scanning means output and said signal generator output for providing for each scan in said first direction an output record on said strip chart recorder including, a plot of said transducer first output as a function of said scanning means output With said first transducer output variations being represented as variations in the vertical direction and With said transverse position being plotted on the horizontal coordinates; a horizontal line at a vertical position representing the average value of said first transducer output; a second horizontal line at a vertical position representing said set point value; and a vertical line at a horizontal position corresponding to the set point position of said indicator on said graduated scale member.

2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said transducer is a radiation thickness gauge.

3. Apparatus for measuring and providing a two-coordinate output record of a variable characteristic of a moving material strip comprising, a transducer disposed adjacent to said material strip and adapted to measure and provide an output indication of variations of said variable characteristic in the region of said transducer; scanning means adapted to repetitively scan said transducer transversely across said material strip and to provide a continuous output indication of the transverse position of said transducer; a two-coordinate strip chart pen recorder having a chart input adapted to control the vertical movement of said chart and a pen input adapted to control the horizontal movement of said pen; a graduated scale member attached in a horizontal position to said strip chart recorder; circuit means generating, as an output, a set point signal equivalent to the output of said transducer for a predetermined desired value of said veriable characteristic; indicator means associated with said circuit means and adapted to provide a visual indication on said graduated scale of said set point value; averaging means providing as an output the average value of said transducer output for each transverse scan of said transducer across said material strip; a first signal generator having an output signal adapted to ad- Vance said strip chart a predetermined adjustable amount; a second signal generator generating an output signal equivalent to said scanning means output signal when said transducer has completed a scan moving in a first direction and is positioned at one side of said material strip; a first program means operative when said transducer is moving in said first direction across said material strip and adapted to provide said transducer output to said chart input control and simultaneously to provide said scanning means output to said pen input control; a second program means operative when said transducer is moving in the opposite direction and adapted to provide in sequence first, said average value to said chart input control and simultaneously said set point signal to said pen input control; second, said set point signal to said chart input control; third, said first signal generator output to said chart input control; fourth, said set point signal to said chart input control and simultaneously said output of said second signal generator to said pen input control; fourth, said scanning means output to said pen input control.

4. Apparatus for measuring and providing a two-coordinate output record of a variable characteristic of a moving material strip comprising, a transduced adapted to measure and provide an output indication of said variable characteristic in the region of said transducer; a scanning means adapted to scan repetitively said transducer back and forth transversely across said material strip and to provide an output indication continuously of the transverse position of said transducer; a two-coordinate strip chart pen recorder, said strip chart having bi-directional vertical motion, said strip chart recorder having a chart input for controlling said vertical motion, said strip chart recorder having a scribing pen at a fixed vertical position adapted for bi-directional horizontal motion, said strip chart recorder having a pen input for controlling the horizontal position of said pen; a signal generator providing, as an output, a set point signal equivalent to said transducer output signal for a predetermined desired value of said variable characteristic; a graduated scale member attached to said strip chart recorder in a horizontal position; indicator means asso ciated with said signal generator and said scale member and adapted to provide a visual indication on said scale member of said set point value; circuit means responsive to said transducer output, said scanning means output and said signal generator output for providing for each scan in said first direction an output record on said strip chart recorder including a plot of said transducer output as a function of said scanning means output with said transducer output variations being represented as variations in the vertical direction and with said transverse position being plotted on the horizontal coordinate; a horizontal line at a vertical position representing said set point value; a vertical line at a horizontal position corresponding to the set point position of said indicator on said graduated scale member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,936,207 5/1960 Beaumont et al. 34629 2,976,103 3/1961 Flanders et a1. 346-29 3,000,438 9/1961 Alexander 250-83.3 X 3,060,430 10/1962 Paschkis 346- 29 3,127,678 4/1964 Muldoon 34629 X RALPH G. NELSON, Primary Examiner.

ARCHIE R. BORCHELT, Examiner, 

1. APPARATUS FOR MEASURING AND PROVIDING A TWO-COORDINATE OUTPUT RECORD OF A VARIABLE CHARACTERISTIC OF A MOVING MATERIAL STRIP COMPRISING, A TRANSDUCER ADAPTED TO MEASURE AND PROVIDE AS A FIRST OUTPUT AN INDICATION OF SAID VARIABLE CHARACTERISTIC IN THE REGION OF SAID TRANSDUCER; A SCANNING MEANS ADAPTED TO SCAN REPETITIVELY SAID TRANSDUCER BACK AND FORTH TRANSVERSELY ACROSS SAID MATERIAL STRIP AND TO PROVIDE AN OUTPUT INDICATION CONTINUOUSLY OF THE TRANSVERSE POSITION OF SAID TRANSDUCER; A TWO-COORDINATE STRIP CHART PEN RECORDER, SAID STRIP CHART HAVING BI-DIRECTIONAL VERTICAL MOTION, SAID STRIP CHART RECORDER HAVING A CHART INPUT FOR CONTROLLING SAID VERTICAL MOTION, SAID STRIP CHART RECORDER HAVING A SRCIBING PEN AT A FIXED VERTICAL POSITION ADAPTED FOR BI-DIRECTIONAL HORIZONTAL MOTION, SAID STRIP CHART RECORDER HAVING A PEN INPUT FOR CONTROLLING THE HORIZONTAL POSITION OF SAID PEN; A SIGNAL GENERATOR PROVIDING, AS AN OUTPUT, A SET POINT SIGNAL EQUIVALENT TO SAID TRANSDUCER FIRST OUTPUT SIGNAL FOR A PREDETERMINED DESIRED VALUE OF SAID VARIABLE CHARACTERISTIC; A GRADUATED SCALE MEMBER ATTACHED TO SAID STRIP CHART RECORDER IN A HORIZONTAL POSITION; INDICATOR MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID SIGNAL GENERATOR AND SAID SCALE MEMBER AND ADAPTED TO PROVIDE A VISUAL INDICATION ON SAID SCALE MEMBER OF SAID SET POINT VALUE; SAID TRANSDUCER PROVIDING AS A SECOND OUTPUT AT THE COMPLETION OF EACH SCAN IN A FIRST DIRECTION THE AVERAGE VALUE OF SAID FIRST TRANSDUCER OUTPUT FOR SAID JUST COMPLETED SCAN; CIRCUIT MEANS RESPONSIVE TO SAID TRANSDUCER FIRST AND SECOND OUTPUTS, SAID SCANNING MEANS OUTPUT AND SAID SIGNAL GENERATOR OUTPUT FOR PROVIDING FOR EACH SCAN IN SAID FIRST DIRECTION AN OUTPUT RECORD ON SAID STRIP CHART RECORDER INCLUDING, A PLOT OF SAID TRANSDUCER FIRST OUTPUT AS A FUNCTION OF SAID SCANNING MEANS OUTPUT WITH SAID FIRST TRANSDUCER OUTPUT VARIATIONS BEING REPRESENTED AS VARIATIONS IN THE VERTICAL DIRECTION AND WITH SAID TRANSVERSE POSITION BEING PLOTTED ON THE HORIZONTAL COORDINATES; A HORIZONTAL LINE AT A VERTICAL POSITION REPRESENTING THE AVERAGE VALUE OF SAID FIRST TRANSDUCER OUTPUT; A SECOND HORIZONTAL LINE AT A VERTICAL POSITION REPRESENTING SAID SET POINT VALUE; AND A VERTICAL LINE AT A HORIZONTAL POSITION CORRESPONDING TO THE SET POINT POSITION OF SAID INDICATOR ON SAID GRADUATED SCALE MEMBER. 